Documents

Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authorities and Marine Protected Area Management

IFCAs are either committees or joint committees of the local authorities that fall within an IFC district which role are to sustainably manage sea fisheries resources and to protect marine ecosystems from the impact of fishing

With regard to Marine Protected Areas, IFCAs have duties which are specifically relevant to marine conservation and must exercise any functions which are relevant to marine conservation so as to secure compliance with the requirements of the Habitats Directives and further the conservation objectives of Marine Conservation Zones. They must proactively manage inshore sea fisheries resources to ensure that activities support the conservation objectives of marine protected areas.

The collection of evidence to inform decisions is integral to effective management. As such, IFCAs also have an integral role in monitoring work within MPAs, from the collection of fishing activity data to habitat surveys to verify and monitor the location of features for which MPAs are designated.